Daily Times

Since the emergence of neo-liberal globalization in the 1980s, it has changed the socio-political, economic and environmental discourse across the global spectrum. Basically, it was the rise of Green politics, Green parties and rising civil society concern about the ecological disaster that shaped the discourse of environmental politics back in the 1980s. As a major field of contemporary comparative politics, the major focus of environmental politics and diplomacy is on policy making and strategies to tackle global warming and climate change. Moreover, as discourse, it encompasses two major premises that shape the foundation of environmental politics. First and Foremost, environmental politics examines the connection between the human realm and the natural world. Secondly, as a major subject of contemporary political discourse it emphasizes the ideological debate over ecological issues.

As an illustration, with in-depth examination of the ecological degradation and environmental apocalypse, the major focus of environmental politics is on conservation and preservation of the natural outlook of the mother earth. Basically, it was the end of the world with the shocking event of Hiroshima that has brought the discourse of environmentalism to the forefront. As a result, the broad range of environmental issues such as air pollution, water pollution and land pollution has given birth to the Green parties across the west in the 1970s. Hence, it was the emergence of the Green parties across the west which have further explored the major themes surrounding environmentalism in the 1980s.

In this respect, over the last two decades, the major themes of environmental politics such as climate change, global warming, ecological degradation and the loss of biodiversity have exacerbated the environmental debate. Perhaps, these major themes were developed into major environmental narratives across the west by exposing their impacts on the human realm through films, songs and literary discourses.

In the broader context, the popular environmental narratives across the media and political landscape have also brought the discourse of neoliberalism and globalization to the forefront. It is because, according to Green politics experts, Globalization has kept the internationalization of trade on the top priority while despising its impacts on the human environment. Perhaps, this is what has brought the debate of social justice and environmental politics at the crossroad.

Ecologists mainly establish their political arguments concerning the environmental crisis by using the theories of social justice advocated by Plato

In contrast, it was the relationship between the human societies and the environment that has brought the issue of social justice and political constancy at the center of the ecological discourse. However, the concept of social justice elaborates about human conduct in changing and transforming the natural world. In this respect, the basic premise of the social justice theory focuses on correcting the conduct of human actions by making human behavior more environmental-centered. Moreover, according to the ecologists and environmental theorists humans need to change their behavior towards the natural world in order to tackle the crisis of environment and ecological degradation. Perhaps, ecologists mainly establish their political arguments concerning the environmental crisis by using the theories of social justice advocated by Plato.

Basically, the whole context of Platonic philosophy concerning social justice surrounds human nature and behavior. Moreover, the theory of social justice advocated by Plato in his book ‘The Republic’ lays much emphasis on social ethics and morality to regulate human nature and human behavior. Perhaps, it is only through the social justice theory of Plato, we can explain the relationship between social justice and political stability. Moreover, the close connection between social justice and political stability has been clearly explained by Plato in the first two books of the republic.

In both books, Plato clearly distinguishes between just and unjust societies from the standpoint of politics and peace. Although, the philosophy of ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle does not directly discuss environmental politics. However, the distinction between the Just and unjust societies explicitly explain about the dynamics of social justice in contrast to human behavior. Moreover, it is the moral and metaphysical philosophy of Plato in the Republic, which anticipates the concepts such as regulation, maintenance and sustainability from the moral and ethical standpoint. For instance, in the book II of the Republic the discussion begins with Plato’s brother, who challenged Socrates to explain to them about the actual meaning of Justice in contrast to human behavior. In this way, the discussion begins, in which Socrates explains the dynamics of justice from the perspective of just actions to Plato’s brother.

In contrast, after thoroughly examining the social justice theories of ancient philosophers; it can be said that their theories present a great emphasis on the concept of ‘sustainability’. Thus, from the standpoint of Plato’s social justice theory, we can draw a conclusion by relating the human behavior and conduct with major environmental themes such as Climate Change and Global warming.

The writer is an international scholar based in Islamabad